Hospitals, County Prepared for Disaster

(October 2008)

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, hospital CEOs and the head of the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council, Kevin Dahill, put pen to paper today and signed an historic Memorandum of Agreement for Hospital Emergency Management Coordination.  The document formalizes the relationship of shared responsibility for disaster readiness and response that these entities have always maintained. 

As hurricane Hanna threatens to hit Long Island this weekend, the groups agreed that their network, which emphasizes communication, coordination, and cooperation, assures the safety of Long Islanders.  Whether the need is to share supplies, personnel, or space/ bed capacity, these hospitals and Suffolk County rescue and response departments work together seamlessly.

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the independent accrediting body for hospitals nationwide, now requires this legal document under its enhanced regulations for hospital emergency preparedness.

Standing from left: Dr. Linda Mermelstein, Suffolk County Health Department; Robert Delagi, Suffolk County Director Emergency Medical Services; Phil Messina, Administrative Director, Emergency Department and Perioperative Services at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center; Dr. Carl Goodman, Director, Emergency Service, Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center; John Searing, Suffolk County Deputy Commissioner Fire Rescue and Emergency Services Department.

Sitting from left: Kevin Dahill, president/CEO of the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council; Paul Connor, CEO of Eastern Long Island Hospital; Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy; Jay Zuckerman, Administrative Director, Regulatory Affairs and Support Services, Peconic Bay Medical Center.